Michael J. Sernyak Award for Advancing Well-Being in People with Serious Mental Illness

Submit A Nomination for the Michael J. Sernyak Award for Advancing Well-Being in People with Serious Mental Illness

Dr. Michael Sernyak was a devoted husband and father first but he was also a leader, friend, and mentor to many. He was an avid cyclist, who saw the connection between physical and mental health before many paid attention and strove to address both through his work. He successfully advocated for bike lanes in the city of New Haven and founded the CMHC farmers market as CEO of the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He was also Professor of psychiatry, deputy chair for State Affairs, and deputy chair for Clinical Affairs for the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.  He leaves a powerful legacy in the field of psychiatry that cannot be ignored.

New in 2025: The Michael J. Sernyak award is an honor bestowed on a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, business, legislator or other citizen who is dedicated to the overall wellness of people with severe mental illness. The winner uses a holistic approach to address the mental health of people with SMI, creating opportunities to improve their physical Health as well. Their contributions to the health and wellbeing of people with SMI demonstrate the power of one to impact the lives of many!